LCBO - No Native App planned

Here is the response I got for a LCBO app status update for BB10
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Thank you for contacting helloLCBO about the BB10.

Almost every new device that Blackberry introduces to the marketplace has a different (new) screen resolution and therefore requires the development of a new version of the application. We are currently supporting 13 different resolutions. Since we have launched, Blackberry has introduced a handful of new resolutions that would require the development of another version. We believe you can appreciate the complexity this introduces to our organization as every time we wish to institute a change to the application we have to develop, test and deploy on all of the separate versions. We made a business decision to discontinue support of a native app as the impact on resources did not make business sense.

With that said, we are in the planning stages for the development of a mobile optimized version of our websites (LCBO and Vintages) to provide a similar experience to the native app for not only our Blackberry users but also our Android users.

If we have not fully addressed your question, please reply to this email leaving the subject line intact, or follow this link "http://hellolcbo.com/app/answers/contact" for numbers to call a Contact Centre Agent .

Well they made one for iOS.
Local Ontario businesses, government agencies making native apps is a way of showing their support. BB10 is Ontario based and it would show their support, maybe make it a bit "exclusive". Why not? Also, give BB10 users some bragging rights and LCBO is funded by our taxes, so it is worth the investment ))

..but yes WebApps are the way to go. But still it is still not matured yet IMHO.

I am of the firm belief that with the way BlackBerry has made converting your Android code to native BB10 code this is ridiculous.

If the LCBO, a Provincial (same as State to our US folks) Government owned organization can't spend the time it takes to support a major company it it's province there is a serious issue. I for one an taking this straight to my Member of Provincial Parliament to demand some action here. The LCBO probably wastes more money in each store on coffee and stir sticks for employees than it would cost to code a native app.

I just send a note to LCBO with the links and your comments. I also CC'ed Kitchener Waterloo MPP and LCBO Media Communications manager. Not that it matters, I do not think it is about an "app", but I think Ontario should support its local businesses, big OR small.

Someone emailed whatsapp asking about the BB10 app and were told that there were no plans at this time to bring it to BB10. The same day some dude from whatsapp confirmed on twitter that the native app would be coming in March. Moral of the story, don't believe what a random CSR says in an email reply. I'm sure there will be an LCBO app coming.

I e-mailed the LCBO and sent them the link I posted above. As it turns out, their response was much more positive:

Thank you for contacting helloLCBO about BlackBerry 10 app.

There are plans to develop an app to for the Blackberry 10 Devices. We are in the process of completing an RFS, hoping to issue soon.

Our goal is to launch the new app with Blackberry and Android support.

If we have not fully addressed your question, please reply to this email leaving the subject line intact, or follow this link "http://hellolcbo.com/app/answers/contact" for numbers to call a Contact Center Agent .

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